Team Topeak-Ergon physiotherapist Craig Gerber will be “working” when he competes in the Race2Nowhere one-day mountain bike challenge in McGregor tomorrow.
The 112km route will form the first stage of the 2018 Cape Epic, scheduled to start on March 18, when Austria’s Alban Lakata and Czech Kristian Hynek will ride under the Topeak-Ergon Racing banner.
Team Topeak-Ergon physiotherapist Craig Gerber, will hope to help his team for the 2018 Cape Epic when he competes in the Race2Nowhere tomorrow. Photo: Supplied
Gerber sees the Race2Nowhere as a good opportunity to formulate a strategy and provide information to his team.
He finished seventh in the Java MTB Challenge in mid-October, which also included parts of the Cape Epic route.
“I’ll be doing the Race2Nowhere mainly for my work,” Gerber said today.
“To see another stage of the Epic route will give me good insight to hand over to the guys when they come to South Africa.
“Having done the Java and with tomorrow to come, I should have a good idea of what is expected in the Epic.
“This is the last opportunity to ride this route before March,” he said.
Hoping to help his team as much as possible, he added: “I can give them a better route description than they will receive in the race briefing.
“This includes info about tyre pressure, chain loop and what to expect at the various stages.
“I will also try to collaborate with them about which parts they should target; all for the best possible result.”
Topeak-Ergon won the Cape Epic in 2014, when Hynek rode with Germany’s Robert Mennen. Hynek and Lakata finished eighth overall this year.
Gerber said they had set their sights on another successful Epic. “This year things didn’t go according to plan. We have big goals for next year.
“It’s going to be tough; no two ways about it. The terrain, I heard, is very rocky and sandy and there are no shady areas.”
Gerber’s girlfriend, Jennie Stenerhag, with whom he won the Knysna Bull mixed category in February, is also competing in the Race2Nowhere tomorrow.
